Retracting carriage mechanism

ABSTRACT

IN A PACKING MACHINE SHEREIN RELATIVELY SOFT RESILIENT COMPRESSIBLE ARTICLES TO BE PACKED, SUCH AS ROLLS OF TOWEL PAPER, ARE INTERMITTENTLY ADVANCED IN LINE AN DIN CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER, EACH OF THE ARTICLES IS OR MAY BE COMPRESSED OR TEMPORARILY DEFORMED TO SOME DEGREE OF CUMULATIVE PRESSURE EXERTED BY TE OTHER ARTICLES IN THE LINE. A CARRIAGE MECHANISM RECEIVES AND SEPARATES A LOAD-GROUP CONSISTING OF A PREDETERMINED NUMBER OF ARTICLES FROM THE LINE AND PERMITS EACH OF THE ARTICLES IN THE GROUP TO RELAX OR OTHERWISE RETURN TO ITS NORMAL SHAPED FREE OF LINE PRES-   SURE INFLUENCE BEFORE THE LOAD-GROUP IS ELEVATED TO A COLLECTOR OR ACCUMULATOR AREA.

J A. P. REVICKI RETRACTING CARRIAGE MECHANISM- Filed Dec. 13, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [/V l/E/VTO/Q v 44 55W P Riv/cm m Array/v5 V5 Filed Deb. *13. 1968 Ja m.v12, 1971 A name, r 3,553,929

ammc'rme CARRIAGE MECHANISM,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 44 j 4 X 44 K459 ZMM M United States Patent O 3,553,929 RETRACTING CARRIAGE MECHANISM Albert P. Revicki, Portland, Conn., assignor to Emhart Corporation, Bloomfield, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 13, 1968, Ser. No. 783,487 Int. Cl. B65b 57/10 US. C]. 53-61 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a packing machine wherein relatively soft resilient compressible articles to be packed, such as rolls of towel paper, are intermittently advanced in line and in contact with each other, each of the articles is or may be compressed or temporarily deformed to some degree of cumulative pressure exerted by the other articles in the line. A carriage mechanism receives and separates a load-group consisting of a predetermined number of articles from the line and permits each of the articles in the group to relax or otherwise return to its normal shape free of line pressure influence before the load-group is elevated to a collector or accumulator area.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to improvements in machines for packing articles in cases or cartons for shipment or other purposes and deals more particularly with an improved carriage mechanism for a machine for packing relatively soft compressible articles in cartons in lines or rows and in contact with each other.

Where articles are to be packed in cartons in line and in contact with each other, it is highly desirable that the articles also be advanced or fed into the packing machine in line and in contact with each other to minimize machine cycle time. Articles intermittently advanced in the aforedescribed manner are or may be at times during the packing cycle subjected to cumulative line pressure exerted by all of the successive articles in the line. Where the articles to be packaged are of a soft or relative compressible character, as for example rolls of towel paper or the like, this cumulative line pressure may tend to compress or at least temporarily deform each of the articles in the general direction of advance. Thus, cylindrical rolls of towel paper advanced in the aforedescribed manner and side-by-side relation may be compressed or deformed to somewhat elliptical cross section. If the articles are of a sufficiently resilient character, however, they will tend to return to normal shape when line pressure is relieved, provided, of course, that this pressure does not become so great or of such duration as to cause the articles to take a permanent set.

It is the general aim of the present invention to provide an improved retracting carriage mechanism for a machine of the aforedescribed character for eliminating or at least substantially reducing the line pressure acting on each article to be packed to allow each article to relax or otherwise return to substantially norm-a1 shape before it is packed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a retracting carriage mechanism is provided for controlling the intermittent advance of a line of articles advancing in contact with each other and for receiving a load-group from the line consisting of one or more articles and moving the load-group to a position spaced from the line so that each of the articles in the load-group may relax to or other- 3,553,929 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 Ice wise substantially return to its normal shape free of line pressure before being packed in a carton.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a packing machine embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic end elevational view of the retracting gate mechanism and in-feed conveyor of the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the retracting gate mechanism and conveyor of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the description which follows and in the drawings forming a part of this specification, the present invention is described and illustrated with reference to a machine for packing rolls of towel paper or the like into cases or cartons. With the exception of the retracting carriage mechanism of the present invention, the packing machine shown in the drawings is conventional and need not be 7 described in detail. In general, the packing machine indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1 comprises an in-feed conveyor 12 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 which advances rolls of towel paper 14, 14 in two parallel lines or rows 16, 16 in side-by-side relationship and in contact with each other between stationary longitudinally extending guide plates 18, 18. A retracting carriage mechanism indicated generally at 20 receives and separates a load-group consisting of a predetermined number of rolls 14, 14 from the lines 16, 16 after which a lifting apparatus indicated generally at 22 elevates the load-group to a collector 24 above the carriage mechanism. The collector is provided with gates 26, 26 or pivoted spring fingers which permit the elevated load-group to move upwardly between guide plates 27, 28 and 29 to enter the collector 24 but which prevent the retrograde or downwardly movement thereof. After one load-group has been moved to a position above the gates 26, 26 the elevation cycle is repeated and another loadgroup is elevated. As each successive load-group is elevated, the load-group immediately above the gates 26, 26 is moved upwardly in the collector 24. When a full-load or charge, which as shown comprises three tiers of loadgroups, has been accumulated in the collector 24, the uppermost tiers engage sensing devices or switches 30, 30 which activates a fluid cylinder (not shown) to move a pusher 32. The charge is moved horizontally into a funnel 34 by the pusher 32 from which it is moved into a container 36, positioned adjacent the funnel, by the next successive charge. A switch 37 positioned in the path of the pusher 32 signals the pusher to return to its ready position as it appears in FIG. 1 and also activates a pivoted dropoff 38 which up-ends the filled container 36. Another switch 39 electrically interlocks the pusher 32 with the drop-off 38 so that the pusher cannot operate to move a load through the funnel 34 unless the drop-off is in its load receiving position.

The retracting carriage mechanism of the present invention provides means for receiving a load-group comprising one or more articles from a line of articles advancing in contact with each other and for transferring the load-group to a position sufficiently spaced from the line to allow each of the articles in the group to relax or otherwise return to its original or substantially normal shape free from influence of the other articles in the line. The carriage mechanism also includes means for braking or halting the advance of the line during the aforesaid transfer cycle. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a load-group is shown to comprise eight rolls 14, 14 arranged in two adjacent columns with four rolls in each column as shown in FIG. 2, each load-group being indicated by broken lines. One load-group is shown positioned on the retracting carriage mechanism 20, another load-group is shown positioned immediately above the gates 26, 26 and two additional load-groups appear in the collector 24.

Considering now the retracting carriage mechanism 20 in further detail, the mechanism includes a transfer table 40 which carries two pairs of transversely spaced longitudinally extending rails 42, 42 on its upper surface, as best shown in FIG. 3. Each pair of rails is adapted to receive and support a column of rolls received from one of the lines 16, 16. Side plates, such as indicated at 44, 44, are or may be provided for maintaining a load-group in proper position with respect to the transfer table 40. Preferably, a transversely extending barrier rail 46 is also provided which extends transversely of the table 40 at the forward end thereof. Support for the table 40 is provided by a pair of support rods 48, 48 fixed to opposite sides of the frame of the machine 10. Four sets of rollers 50, '50 journaled on shafts which project from opposite sides of the table engage the rods 48, 48 to support the table for reciprocating movement in horizontal alignment with and generally toward and away from the conveyor 12. Thus, the transfer table 40 is movable between a full line or load-receiving pqsition generally adjacent the discharge end of the conveyor 12 and the forward end of the lines 16, 16 and a retracted or broken line position wherein it is longitudinally spaced from the forward end of the conveyor 12 as shown in FIG. 2. A vertically disposed fluid cylinder 52 mounted below the table 40 acts through a crank arm 54 to drive the table between its load-receiving and retracted positions.

A braking device is provided to halt the advance of the lines 16, 16 during the transfer cycle, that is, while the transfer table 40 moves a load-group to its retracted position. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, clamping devices 56, 56 are provided for braking the advancing lines 16, 16. Each clamping device 56 is mounted on the frame of the machine and includes a clamping plate 58 and a fluid cylinder 60 which moves the plate into and out of engagement with the end surface of a roll 14 at the forward end of an associated line 16 to clamp the roll against one of the guide plates 18, 18. Additional clamping devices 62, 62 are mounted on the transfer table 40 to clampingly engage the two rolls at the rear of a load-group positioned on the table to prevent the retrograde movement of the load-group during the transfer cycle. Each clamp member 62 is operated by a fluid cylinder 64 and cooperates with a clamping plate 66 which extends upwardly from an associated inner rail 42 to effect clamping engagement with an associated roll 14.

The elevating apparatus 22 which forms a part of the carriage mechanism 20 includes two generally rectangularly shaped lift tables 68, 68. Each table 68 is supported for vertical movement through an elongated opening in the transfer table 40 between an associated pair of rails 44, 44. Two vertically extending guide rods 70, 70 connect each of the lift tables 68, 68 to a lifting frame 72 positioned below the transfer table 40. A fluid cylinder 74 operably connected to the frame 72 serves to simultaneously move the two lift tables 68, 68 between lowered or full-line positions wherein the tables are positioned below the rails 44, 44 and elevated or lifting positions indicated by broken lines wherein the lift tables are positioned above the gates 26, 26, as shown in FIG. *1.

Sensing devices of various types may be employed for controlling the sequence of operation of the various elements comprising the carriage mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of electrically operated sensing devices is provided for this purpose. In accordance with one preferred construction, a detector device comprising a pair of photoelectric cells 76, 76 operate the stop means or clamps 56, 56 which halt the advancing lines 16, 16 and also simultaneously operate the clamp means or clamp members 62, 62 which releasably retain the load-group in position on the transfer table during the transfer cycle. The photoelectric cells 76, 76 also simultaneously activate the fluid cylinder '52 to move the transfer table to its retracted position. The photoelectric cells 76, 76 are positioned a suflicient distance rearwardly of the barrier rail 46 so that the clamps 62, 62 engage the two rolls at the rear of the load-group at or before the instant that the rolls at the forward end of the group contact the barrier.

When the transfer table 40 attains its fully retracted position, it engages a switch 80 which signals the start of the lifting cycle causing the fluid cylinder 74 to move the lift tables 68, 68 to their respective elevated positions. However, it should be noted that the sensing circuit for the elevating mechanism 22 is interlocked with the pusher 32 through a switch 82 so that the lift tables 68, 68 cannot be elevated unless the pusher 32 is fully retracted or in its ready position. As the lift tables start their initial upwardly movement a switch 84 engageable with the frame '72 operates to move the clamps 62, 62 to move to their respective released positions. When the lift tables 68, 68 reach their fully elevated positions, another switch 86 is operated by a finger 88 carried by the frame 72 which causes the fluid motor 74 to reverse and thereby lower the lift tables. As the lift tables 68, 68 return to their lowered positions the frame 72 again engages the switch 84 which reverses the action of the fluid cylinder 52 to return the transfer table 40 to its load-receiving position and also releases the braking clamps 56, 56 so that the cycle may be repeated.

In accordance with another construction in-feed detector switches 90, 90 are provided in place of the photoelectric cells 76, 76 as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 3. The detector switches are mounted in the path of and are actuated by the advancing load-group. Preferably, the two switches 90, 90 are connected in series so that both switches must be actuated to indicate the presence of a properly positioned load-group on the transfer table 40. Operation of the switches 90, 90 serve to simultaneously activate the clamping devices 56, 56 and '62, 62 and to cause the cylinder 52 to move the transfer table 40 to its retracted position forwardly of the conveyor 12. It will be evident that when the detecting switches 90, 90 are arranged in the aforedescribed manner the load-group will be clamped in position on the transfer table by the clamps 62, 62 while under the influence of cumulative compressive force exerted by the other articles in the lines 16, 16. The remaining switches are arranged and function generally as aforedescribed. Thus, as the lifting cycle begins the switch 84 will operate as aforedescribed to release the clamps 62, 62 so that each of the rolls in the load-group on the transfer table will be free to relax or otherwise resume its normal or undeformed shape before moving into the collector 24.

I claim:

1. In a machine for packing resilient compressible articles into cases and having means for assembling the articles in a line and in contact with each other and for advancing the line longitudinally of itself and wherein each of the articles in said line is subjected to cumulative pressure exerted by the other articles in said line tending to compress each of said articles in said longitudinal direction, a retracting carriage mechanism comprising transfer means in the path of said line for receiving a load-group from said line consisting of a predetermined number of articles and for moving said load-group from a first position generally adjacent the forward end of said line to a second position longitudinally spaced from said forward end, said transfer means adapted to accommodate said load-group with each of the articles in said group relaxed in said longitudinal direction, means operable to releasably retain said load-group on said transfer means, means for moving said transfer means be 5 tween load receiving and retracted positions corresponding respectively to said first and second positions, stop means operable to halt the advance of said line, and detecting means for operating said stop means and said moving means to move said transfer means to said retracted position in response to the presence of a loadgroup on said transfer means.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said means for releasably retaining said load-group comprises a clamping member operable to engage at least one of said articles comprising said load-group.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for releasably retaining said load-group is operated by said detecting means.

'4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said stop means comprises a clamping member operable to clampingly engage an article defining said forward end.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transfer means comprises a generally horizontally disposed table supported for reciprocating movement in said longitudinal direction between said first and second positions and relative to the frame of said packing machine.

6. The combination set forth in claim 5 including a barrier at the forward end of said table in the path of said load-group and wherein said detecting means is spaced rearwardly of said barrier and responsive to movement of said load-group toward said barrier.

7. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein said detecting means comprises a switch'mounted at the forward end of said table and in the path of advance of said load-group.

8. In a machine as set forth in claim 1 and including a load collector the combination wherein said transfer means in said second position is generally aligned with said load collector and including means for moving said load-group from said transfer means to said load collector.

9. In a machine for packing resilient compressible articles into cases and having means for assembling the articles in a line and in contact with each other and for advancing the line longitudinally of itself and wherein each of the articles in said line is subjected to cumulative pressure exerted by the other articles in said line tending to compress each of said articles in said longitudinal direction, a retracting carriage mechanism comprising transfer means in the path of said line for receiving a load-group from said line consisting of a predetermined number of articles and for moving said loadgroup from a first position generally adjacent the forward end of said line to a second position longitudinally spaced from said forward end, said transfer means adapted to accommodate said load-group with each of the articles in said group relaxed in said longitudinal direction, means for moving said transfer means between load receiving and retracted positions corresponding respectively to said first and second positions, stop means operable to halt the advance of said line, detecting means for operating said stop means and said moving means to move said transfer means to said retracted position in response to the presence of a loadgroup on said transfer means, a load collector positioned above and in general alignment with said transfer means in said second position, and lifting means for elevating said load-group from said transfer means to said load collector.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein said transfer means comprises a generally horizontally disposed table and said lifting means is operable through an opening in said table.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,432,045 3/1969 Bauer 2l4-6X TRAVIS S. McGEHEE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

